Top performers in Class of 2013 to be recognized at 50th Scholar Athlete Award dinner

Katherine Dunn, The Baltimore Sun

The top scholars in the high school football Class of 2013 will be honored Wednesday night at Martin's West during the 50th annual Scholar Athlete Award dinner, sponsored by the Greater Baltimore Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.

The event, postponed from two weeks ago due to a forecast for inclement weather, honors 80 student-athletes from Baltimore City, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick Harford and Howard counties, with five regional winners sharing $20,000 worth of scholarship money.

In addition to players honors, last fall's best football teams will be recognized. The three state champions from the greater Baltimore area — River Hill, Dunbar and Middletown — will receive the Ben Eaton Sr. Championship Award, named for the late Dunbar coach who led the Poets to the 2004 and 2006 Class 1A state championships.

Gilman, the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference champion, will receive the A. Paul Merton Award as the top-rated high school program in the Baltimore area last fall.

The National Football League Former Players Chapter will also recognize one football player for the Courage Award, citing his accomplishments on and off the field.